Chapter 697 – Whistle (4)

Beautiful mountain scenery spread against an evening filled with mist. A time when twilight mixed into the hazy white fog like paint, and the precarious crimson glow characteristic of sunset faintly illuminated the world as if it might color the mountain slopes at any moment.

Jeong Yeon-shin spoke calmly.

“It’s winter here.”

Standing on the grass blades with his hands clasped behind his back, he swayed slightly left and right like the thickets.

While his body brushed against the gentle breeze, a pure white divine sword repeatedly surged toward his earlobes, neck, waist, and forearms before missing. A situation where cool sensation remained on his skin, yet there was neither blood nor roaring.

Rustle, whoosh…

The fifteen-year-old girl’s extremely precise sword strikes, and the eighteen-year-old youth’s even more sublime evasion. Jeong Yeon-shin was reading not only his young master’s energy waves but every muscle fiber’s movement. While flashing the bright blue light of Lowly Revelation Technique.

It wasn’t that he was merely evading.

At this moment, semi-transparent wind was swirling in spirals in Jeong Yeon-shin’s right hand. It was his constant Brilliant River technique, meant to pressure his opponent into using full strength.

“……”

Jeong Yeon-shin had nothing appropriate to say, and young Desolate Fortress Lord also silently swung her sword. A scene where the thickets at their feet were sliced thinly from the top down by the cool sword wind.

Meanwhile, the girl’s leather shoes were thick as if made to defend against stray arrows, yet she lightly stepped consecutively on tall grass blades with grass-skimming lightness technique. All were footwork methods that enhanced sword power.

‘All her sword strikes are clean.’

At this level, it was a standard without flaws.

Even Jeong Yeon-shin couldn’t draw such sword paths before entering jianghu. In other words, as a swordsman, she was superior to Jeong Yeon-shin of the same age. It was purely a matter of experience before natural talent, something impossible unless one had made fierce battlefields one’s home.

What kind of years had she spent?

Jeong Yeon-shin wanted to praise something. Just as his master had welcomed him.

“…You have worked hard to plan for life.”

After saying it himself, he thought it was somehow awkward.

Transparent sweat had also formed below his young master’s neck at the same time. Faint steam rose from around her collarbone, warmed by intense movement and internal energy operation. Even though she would have achieved immunity to cold and heat through the absurdly early bone transformation.

‘She’s finally reacting.’

Jeong Yeon-shin was relieved. The girl had seemed indifferent to everything, making it difficult to speak to her.

Swish.

He stopped her blade that had been striking toward his chest with his left hand.

“Let’s rest for a moment.”

It was likewise bare-handed blade catching. Following that, when he flicked his finger, the Extinction Sword flew with a “twang” and lodged in the ground.

The gentle orange glow of sunset flowed down the long blade to the ground. That sword surface remained white despite facing the evening sun. Unlike the future Extinguishing Sword that had been somewhat faded.

‘It doesn’t fit Master’s current body, what could be the story behind it?’

Jeong Yeon-shin sat in meditation posture with his question.

“……”

The girl who had been staring down at him for quite a while slowly sat cross-legged. She was in a state requiring breath regulation.

Several breaths of time passed.

Even until then, Yue Feng had not arrived. The force of the first Divine Sword Group Leader was enough to dominate any battlefield, so it was clearly strange to anyone.

This also seemed to be a question for the girl who was concentrating on energy circulation with open eyes. She occasionally glanced over Jeong Yeon-shin’s shoulder, then her gaze would come down to monitor Jeong Yeon-shin. Her own wide-eyed expression stood out faintly.

“He won’t be able to come easily. There are many reasons.”

The future World’s Fastest continued speaking.

“First, because it’s dense forest where vision doesn’t open clearly; second, because I trusted in protective strong energy and didn’t delay lightness technique; third reason is the energy barrier surrounding the nearby area at the level of a Divine Sword Deputy Leader. It’s the world’s greatest Return to Origin domain.”

Moreover, his own Return to Origin studies might be third in all the world including True Ming Dynasty. Now there was practically no existence that could catch Jeong Yeon-shin if he decided to flee. It was only fortunate that his position wasn’t one to run away from battlefields.

“If you want to make future jianghu travels safe, many things like this must be prepared no matter what you do. Since jianghu is originally a monster with many variables… it’s difficult to fully achieve desired results with just one or two arrangements. Though I only realized this recently myself…”

Jeong Yeon-shin spoke gently like his master. That the jianghu he had experienced for so long without her was like this.

‘…Why does every word seem to have meaning?’

Even if Master Won-jeok were to die again, he would immediately return to the starting point, yet somehow it didn’t feel like ephemeral talk. Probably because there was a high possibility he wouldn’t be able to have such time with his future master.

He slowly made eye contact with the girl from whom slightly thicker steam now rose gently.

“I hope you live.”

He said quietly. This was the reason for continuously exchanging techniques with his young master. Even with absurd hope, he wanted to subdue Desolate Fortress Lord unified with World Tree without killing her. His master who would have reached a state equal to the masters of Unity, Void Culmination, and Supreme Taiji.

Work that might be harder than overcoming his short-lived constitution. He hadn’t even become strong enough to discuss being the greatest of all time.

Jeong Yeon-shin had also emptied his heart.

If he were to face death from his master in such an inadequate state, what would happen to the people left behind? His maternal grandfather, Divine Sword Group, and several others including the Seventh Apostle.

“…That palm technique.”

Suddenly the girl’s finger pointed to Jeong Yeon-shin’s palm center. The wind still swirling while emitting rotational shock waves.

“It has no killing intent yet is domineering. How is that?”

“It would be because of the martial art’s origin.”

“Origin…?”

“A palm technique completed while killing someone I didn’t want to kill.”

Jeong Yeon-shin spoke calmly, and young Desolate Fortress Lord asked no more. Only the thickets rustling constantly in the gentle whirlpool, like the down of high noble clans said to even feel nature’s emotions.

Jeong Yeon-shin broke the silence himself.

“Your internal energy breathing has stabilized. Would it be alright to start again…?”

“Couldn’t we stop here?”

The girl slowly moved her lips.

“This is an opportunity, but not now. I should go now.”

Suddenly the ground shook.

Rumble…

It wasn’t a brief earthquake. The vibration that arose underfoot spread beyond the lush forest to the mountain slopes in an instant. The beautiful mountain scenery naturally began to undulate like dancing.

This was the first time period he experienced without regression.

‘What’s happening…?’

[Sanfeng!]

A tremendous Six Union Battlefield Formation strike hit the sky.

Hundreds of mountain birds fluttered their wings and soared above the vast forest. At the same time, even the hemispherical energy barrier that had been spread around Jeong Yeon-shin and the girl wavered like smoke.

“Dark Heaven Emperor?”

At Jeong Yeon-shin’s mutter, young Desolate Fortress Lord nodded slightly.

“Yuan Martial Gods and the King of the Faded Clan have also come. Each with their own purposes.”

They were legendary beings.

He had heard of them since childhood. Not only the remaining peerless masters of the Yuan Dynasty that had ruled the Central Plains before the Ming Dynasty rose, but also the name King of the Faded Clan. Especially the latter was said to be one of the supernatural disasters that had devastated Xinye County long ago.

The girl whispered.

“They all intend to cut down World Tree. So that Ming Dynasty’s governance won’t become solid.”

Jeong Yeon-shin thought. They’re allies.

It was then.

Suddenly thick ripples arose on the semi-transparent energy barrier as if heavy rain was pouring down. Along with deafening roars that seemed to tear at eardrums.

CRASH!

A barrage of countless arrows.

Penetrating shock waves began breaking through the energy barrier, and before one could blink, tremendous archery strikes poured in again. The energy barrier scattered like mist in an instant.

What was revealed beyond it was noble clan martial forces numbering in the thousands. Suddenly the view was filled with a forest of people. The sight of each stepping on branches and leaves was spectacular.

“There!”

“The clan’s Revered Lord first!”

Noble clan mental transmissions.

Revered Lord seemed to refer to his young master. Like how Blood Flame Cult nobles had revered the Seventh Apostle, Desolate Fortress Lord was said to be the last high noble clan member after Wei Yan.

‘Did they detect through World Tree’s branches? They would extend throughout this entire area.’

Valuable information. When full-scale war broke out with World Tree forces, even True Ming Dynasty and Radiant Origin Spear shouldn’t rely on Return to Origin.

How good it would be if such regression were possible outside as well. Even if his mind wore away, protecting those around him would be easier.

“Everyone deploy Blue Sky White Sun Divine Bodies. Wait for the clan leader and Crimson Heaven Palace Lord. Yue Feng will also arrive soon. Enraged, he will far surpass ten thousand great armies.”

“The dharma protectors and clan leader are reportedly in battle with five Yuan Martial Gods. The Faded King is also heading south…”

“Five of them? What about Zhang Sanfeng?”

“He clashed with Dark Heaven Emperor, then suddenly vanished as if that had been an opportunity.”

“Send word to the main tree. We absolutely cannot lose track of Zhang Sanfeng’s location. And that man in the purple robe… what’s the analysis on him?”

“Please give revelation from the main tree.”

“Why do you stop reporting? Quickly fulfill the priestess’s duty.”

“…Northern Emperor.”

The face of the woman who reported with an expression as if she herself didn’t know what it meant had fewer wrinkles than the features settled in Jeong Yeon-shin’s memory. However, the gently settled eyes and narrow cheeks were exactly the same as his memory.

World Tree’s First Elder.

She was a figure who oversaw the main tree’s Four Great Dharma Protectors and acted as if she were Golden Thunder’s mother. In terms of Desolate Fortress, she was close to Grand Administrator, but now she looked middle-aged.

“What?”

The noble clan swordsman beside her furrowed his brow. A middle-aged man who seemed to be the leader of the clan’s military forces, but not in Jeong Yeon-shin’s memory. He probably didn’t survive to the outside time period.

“Northern Emperor? That’s all?”

“Yes. Aside from those two words, there was no other story…”

“Enough. First we must guard against Dark Heaven Emperor from behind. That fellow with loosened restraints might claim to be Zhang Sanfeng’s worthy opponent. If we’re careless, we might be annihilated in vain…”

Jeong Yeon-shin agreed inwardly while pulling his young master’s sleeve into his arms.

‘This became troublesome.’

Dark Heaven Emperor’s Transcendent Martial Art was more alien than even Northern Six Star Lords’ final technique. Hadn’t he handled flood dragons like limbs while simultaneously dealing with himself, Lady Xian, and Master Beom-heo?

“Prepare. We fire simultaneously.”

The martial forces leader spread his mental transmission widely, and Jeong Yeon-shin extended his energy sense far to find Master Won-jeok’s energy waves. With Thunder-Annihilation Sword Technique Judgement Qilin, he could behead him in one strike without any pain.

‘Regression is a good thing.’

There was still much to excavate in World Tree’s domain.

Starting with his young master. Not only her unconscious micro-muscle movements and all basic cultivation, but what thoughts she held while growing, what kind of person young Desolate Fortress Lord was, how that would influence her sword path.

Even sleeping habits that might or might not exist should properly be understood.

Just like his master.

“You…?”

Perhaps because he had put strength in his arms. The girl trapped in his embrace looked up at Jeong Yeon-shin’s chin.

He didn’t lower his gaze.

Just before the noble clan martial forces launched their archery attack, another being had crossed the sky. While magnificently fluttering pure white robes even whiter than Taoist Sanfeng’s Taoist robe.

[Void Extinction Mirror.]

It rang out bleakly.

“……!”

The noble clan forces that had replaced the forest swayed greatly like waves. It was as if a tsunami had seeped into the ground.

CRASH!

Roaring that penetrated only through Jeong Yeon-shin’s upper energy center.

‘Still the same.’

He furrowed his brow at the light dizziness.

Everyone’s essence, energy, and spirit went awry like wrongly meshed gears. Even those who hadn’t achieved Three Flowers Gathering at Crown seemed to lose the clarity their upper energy centers had provided, as the light characteristic of masters flickered out like candles.

An invisible bottomless pit spread out.

It was Transcendent Martial Art.

“It’s Dark Heaven Emperor! Yuan Martial Gods, Zhang Sanfeng, Dark Heaven Emperor…! Priestess, quickly receive permission for unification! To the main tree, hurry…”

“Group Leader, that alone cannot be! Not yet!”

“Quickly!”

Mental transmission was a technique requiring delicate internal energy operation. Unless they were masters of orthodox martial arts like Master Beom-heo and Lady Xian, in such situations they could only shout aloud.

[Worthless things. Where did Zhang Sanfeng go?]

A very human-looking noble clan figure in white robes spoke while overlapping his body with clouds using void-treading techniques. While slowly looking down at the assembly.

Jeong Yeon-shin looked up at him quietly.

‘Chaotic times are chaotic times.’

He showed no sign of yielding ground to any swordsman from the start. Even without as much preparation as when he had made Hangzhou his domain, he looked stronger than then.

Perhaps because being in his youth made the combination of essence, energy, and spirit more solid than ever.

Rustle.

Perhaps due to his overwhelming energy waves? Suddenly thin, transparent wind streams like brushstrokes formed, then crumbled on their own after brushing the white-robed figure’s collar.

Presence that alone replaced natural disasters.

They said no one in all history was better than Dark Heaven Emperor in one-against-many battles. It wasn’t strange that the sublime archery masters fell into silence at this moment.

[You’ll soon die muttering about natural order. You must have business here. If you don’t answer truthfully, even if my Faded Clan has to annihilate you all…]

It was an instant.

[Southern Splendor Vast Taiji.]

[Radiant Wing Five Steps.]

[Starry Night.]

[Enter The Dao Transcend Together.]

Bluish sparks raced through the forest like light rays to become Tajji, and before he knew it, Jeong Yeon-shin was behind Dark Heaven Emperor in the air. While pulling up his neck carved with dark red lines with one hand, not even looking back.

[You are…?]

Jeong Yeon-shin silently put strength into his grip. To prevent him from reviving as the skeletal spirit.

[Heaven Breaking.]

Crack!

Fragments of the shattered head fell pattering down. Dark Heaven Emperor’s body, having lost its head, fell to the ground belatedly and collapsed with a thud.

“……”

All the martial forces including World Tree’s First Elder were left speechless. Young Desolate Fortress Lord, though freed from Jeong Yeon-shin’s embrace, only stared at him intensely with clear eyes.

It was then that the world suddenly became hazy.

A sign of regression.

They said something big had happened on Wei Yan’s side, and it seemed Master Won-jeok had died again. Jeong Yeon-shin suddenly envied the native gods.

‘It’s fine.’

Adapting to the new internal energy system here was also a great benefit. Outside, it wouldn’t be strange if his entire meridians burst several times over from the broken luminous wheel’s power.

Most of all.

He was delving into his young master. All knowledge was great joy. Naturally, he wouldn’t tire of repeating it many times. He wondered if this was the privilege of infinite time.

‘If something happens outside, Master Beom-heo will wake me. I can consider it secluded training before a great battle.’

So.

When such time had repeated ten more times.

“Time to stop soon.”

At the starting point of regression, Taoist Sanfeng thrust his face toward Jeong Yeon-shin. With the sky rotating hugely like Taiji behind his smiling face.

That appearance was bizarrely chillin.